For 2003, this project will continue to work on autonomous control of
both ROVs and AUVs. The near-term focus will be development and
exploitation of vision-based sensing to enable autonomous/automatic
vehicle control. This work is part of a joint research activity between
Stanford University’s Aerospace Robotics Laboratory and MBARI, focused
on exploring high-risk high-payoff technologies that will enable a
"spectrum of autonomy" in unmanned underwater vehicle control.
Work continues on full-scale integration of of automated modes for benthic
and midwater station-keeping.

The project will also extend previous developments to:

Create a robust, turn-key pilot aid for ROV
benthic station-keeping and mosaicking that is fully integrated into
the hardware and software environments of the ROVs.

Enable new capabilities in pilot aids for ROV
jelly tracking

Generate new control and tracking
technologies that will enable a new platform capable of tracking
gelatinous marine animals for long periods of time (e.g. days).